Host:
Greetings, dear viewers. I start today's episode by offering my respect to Shantikunja Ma and Baba, and to Gurudev. I welcome new viewers to the Gupto Sadhak Shyama Kapa YouTube channel and thank our long-time friends for their continued support.
Host:
Gurudev, there is something I've been wanting to ask. We see many spiritual seekers today—for instance, many take initiation (Deeksha) from this very temple and start their journey. However, it seems many get stuck or face obstacles midway. We also see people taking initiation from various other gurus and temples, but their spiritual progress often comes to a sudden halt. What is the reason behind this?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Look, a true seeker (Sadhak) is born once in ten million. In West Bengal, with a population of a hundred million, there might only be one true Sadhak. It cannot be more than that. Regarding those who come to us for initiation, I often tell them: you won't be able to sustain it. What will you do with initiation? You'll break away midway. Many just want to be able to say, "I took initiation from Shyama Kapa." You might say your Gurudev is Shyama Kapa just for social recognition, but you aren't actually progressing.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Why aren't you progressing? Firstly, you aren't choosing your Guru carefully; you're just doing it for the sake of doing it. Most people taking initiation haven't read any scriptures or have no real understanding of the path. Without a proper idea, it's better not to enter this line. People often take initiation just to "purify" the body or clear the sins of past lives. We grant it for that purpose—to purify the human birth.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
But as for a true Sadhak, I haven't found a single one yet. I've tried hard and I'm still waiting to see if anyone emerges. I know some are practicing in Kamakhya or have gone to the Himalayas, but I cannot say for sure how far they will go.
Host:
But Gurudev, why can't they move forward?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
The primary reason is envy. No one can tolerate another's progress. They try to destroy each other's positions. They might want to practice, but the environment becomes such that they cannot continue.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Then there is the issue of choosing the wrong Guru. Even those who take initiation from people like us often get misled by others outside who tell them, "You took it from him? What will that achieve?" and so on. I see this with my own eyes. How can a true Sadhak emerge like this? Out of a hundred million people, you will struggle to find even one. You'll find many wearing saffron robes or rudraksha beads, making a lot of noise, but a true, fundamental Sadhak? It's almost impossible.
Host:
Gurudev, could it be that one practitioner cannot tolerate another due to ego?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, that definitely exists. Even the gods say that they stay far away from those consumed by ego. So, you are right; ego is a major factor in one's downfall. Pride leads to the end.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We see this today—people envying one another. It has taken a terrible form. They aren't even true practitioners, yet they spend their time plotting against others. Believe it or not, some small-time "tantriks" even try to work against people like us. We can sense everything they are doing. We keep ourselves protected, but they still try to make us deviate from our path. People have even died trying to harm me; they couldn't estimate who they were dealing with.
Host:
In that case, Gurudev, you don't actually curse them, do you?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
No, we cannot curse anyone. As practitioners, we cannot wish for someone's death. We perform the Mahamritunjaya ritual for years. Our goal is for people to live. We work so that humanity survives and thrives. We never think about killing. We have immense power, but we cannot misuse it. Our hands are tied by our principles.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Many people come to me and say, "You aren't doing anything? You have so much power!" I can't make them understand that our power isn't for that. It's not for killing or harassing others. According to the instructions of Lord Mahadev, we cannot misuse our abilities.
Host:
I read somewhere that Sri Ramakrishna Dev said the only reason a practitioner fails to progress is ego.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Exactly. "Where there is ego, God is not." Ego is the root of the downfall. This is what we see in modern times—envy and malice.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
I'm telling you, try to find one true Sadhak among ten million people in West Bengal. You'll find plenty of saffron clothes and rudraksha beads, but they aren't real practitioners in our eyes. They are just putting on a show for the public.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
People come to me after taking initiation elsewhere and ask for initiation again. I tell them that you cannot have two initiations. If your Guru is alive, you cannot take initiation from another; it's a sign of disrespect. They complain that their previous Guru gave them nothing or just told them to leave. But I won't do it. You choose a Guru once; it doesn't happen twice. Even if the Guru is a "thief" or knows nothing, that's not the point. You verify before you choose, but once chosen, it is final.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
We have followed the path shown by Bamadev Baba. We never disregarded him. Whatever he gave us, we have held onto it tightly. We haven't committed any act that would displease him. We follow his words to the letter. He is my Guru; I have studied his life and I live according to what I have understood. Others aren't doing that.
Host:
Gurudev, do you not have a hope in your heart that among the many you've initiated, at least one will become a true Sadhak?
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
As I said, there are a couple in Kamakhya, some in Nepal at Pashupatinath, and some in the Himalayas. They are the ones carrying my name forward. True practitioners are in the Himalayas—in the caves and monasteries. They are the ones you should bow your head to.
Host:
Gurudev, we will end here for today. I offer my respects.
Guru Shyama Khyapa:
Yes, blessings.